The man wearing business-formal attire exited the train behind the crowd and looked around, his black briefcase hanging in a tight hand. A swift sidestep allowed entry to the lined up passengers, and soon the train doors closed. The engine hissed, belching steam into the air before a horn blew twice and the train chugged along the tracks.

  The man did not follow the other passengers up the stairs, and was soon the only one left on the platform. He took out a notepad from his breast pocket to consult it before walking to his left, all the way to the end of the platform.

  At the last bench slouched another man, dressed in a gray-silver double-breasted suit. A thin golden chain hung from his right breast-pocket, and his color-matching fedora covered his face as the man leaned against the wall, seemingly unaware of the businessman walking in his direction.

  The businessman stopped in front of this last bench to eye the sitting man, glancing at his wristwatch without really looking at the time as he waited. The seconds ticked by, then minutes, and then another train arrived, opened its doors to let out another gaggle of people enter and exit. These, too, trickled up the stairs, then the station was silent again.

  And yet, the sitting man seemed unaware, as the businessman began tapping his foot, choosing to set down his briefcase next to him.

  Finally, another train had passed by before the businessman cleared his throat carefully.

  “Mister, um, Koloolup…?” the businessman began slowly but was interrupted by the man’s response, muffled by the fedora.

  “I beg your pardon?” asked the businessman, taking a step forward. The sitting man lifted his fedora, barely revealing his face, and said in a louder voice, “Just Kolo is fine.”

  And then he lowered the fedora again.

  “Look, Mister Kolo. I know you weren’t expecting me, but I’m here because I hear you can help me.”

  The fedora came up again. “I said, ‘Just Kolo is fine.’”

  “Kolo. Understood. Kolo. Alright then, Kolo. We’re wasting time,” stated the businessman, tapping his foot again. “I’m here because I hear you make miracles happen, and that you told my people I had to come personally. So here I am, without anyone else, just as you asked.”

  But Kolo didn’t respond. Tap. Tap. Tap, went the businessman’s foot. Finally, the businessman reached down and picked up his briefcase again, then pushed it towards Kolo.

  “I brought money. More than enough money, I think. Surely you can respond to my –” But the businessman was interrupted again by that muffled voice.

  “You haven’t told me who you are. Mister…?”

  The businessman let the briefcase lower down to his side. “My name doesn’t matter, but if you must insist, call me Daniel. Will you help me or not? I have money, if money is what you want. I know people, I can get people to do anything. That’s how I found you, because my sources say you can make this happen.”

  The fedora came up this time, settling finally towards Kolo's head as Kolo revealed the entirety of his face.

  “What you want is something that can’t be bought, Daniel.”

  Daniel did not hesitate. “Favors then. Fortune. Connections. Whatever you want.”

  Another pause came, then Kolo sat up, spreading his legs and leaning against his knees with his elbows propping himself upright as he stared into Daniel’s eyes.

  “She calls you Danny, doesn’t she? Ever since you were a boy.”

  Daniel flinched, then responded quickly, “You aren’t my mother, Kolo. I’d appreciate it if you don’t call me Danny.”

  Kolo’s head tilted to the side as he observed Daniel. “And I want you to know that what you want cannot be bought, Daniel.”

  Daniel dropped the briefcase in frustration, hearing the next train coming along as he shouted against the sound. “This is beginning to become a waste of my time. What do you want then, Kolo?! I came here, by myself, just like you said. I thought this meant you’re here to make a deal, but all you’ve been doing is telling me I can’t pay for what I want. What. Do. You. Want?”

  Seconds passed in silence, then Kolo reached into his right breast-pocket to pull out a golden pocket watch. Daniel glanced at it just as Kolo released the latch, popping open the metal cover.

  Abrupt silence assaulted Daniel’s ears. He spun around quickly, unnerved by the lack of sound. A train had just entered the station. But it wasn’t moving. Nothing was moving.

  “There. All quiet. At least, for the … time being.” Kolo chuckled to himself out loud as he viewed the watch, then glanced towards Daniel. “Do your sources tell you what they call me, Daniel?”

  Daniel returned to his senses, having wondered if he should attempt to pick up his briefcase. And then he remembered who he was dealing with. His eyes darted around the station again as he prepared his reply.

  “The one that told me about you… they said you were the Time Merchant.”

  “Michelle, wasn’t it?” Kolo didn’t ask, merely stated. Daniel nodded vigorously, his eyes still trying to look around. “She should have told you that I don’t need money too.”

  Frowning, Daniel tried to tap the toe of his shoe against the briefcase, only to realize he could not make it budge. It, too, was stuck in time. “I don’t understand. She said she paid you for your services. So I thought that…”

  “Oh, she did. She did pay, Daniel,” Kolo confirmed with a smiled, then frowned as he thought to himself. A moment later, he then added, “She will.”

  “Alright. So it’s still a transaction. Then what is wrong with my money? I’ve got so much money in this briefcase you wouldn’t even believe –“

  The pocket watch was shut tightly with a quick close of the Time Merchant’s fingers, and time resumed itself as the train drowned out Daniel’s tirade.

  It wasn’t until the people had entered and exited and the station was quiet again before Kolo responded.

  “Time is money, Daniel.”

  Daniel’s mind whirled at what was being said. He could put two and two together.

  “One year of my life,” Daniel offered. “For one year for her. My mother. Please.”

  Kolo shook his head. “That’s not enough.”

  “Three years,” Daniel said immediately.

  Kolo looked at Daniel with no response.

  “Five. For two years, and then I want you to make it so –“

  “No, Daniel. Ten for one.”

  Daniel blanched visibly. “Ten?! You mean, years?”

  “Ten years,” replied Kolo. “And to be perfectly honest, you don’t need it, Daniel.”

  “Of course I need it, my mother will die in three months, and I can’t help but –“

  “That means you have three months left to see her, Daniel,” Kolo said simply, “Three whole months.”

  “I can’t see her in these coming three months! I run a multi-national, well-known business! I can’t put aside my business, for all the people depending on me, to go off on my own selfish little family get-together.“

  Kolo’s head tilted again. “Why did you come find me? Instead of visiting your mother right now?”

  Daniel’s eyes narrowed. “This had potential to return more time. She only has three months left and if you lengthen her time, then –“

  “So you’re telling me, Danny, that you prefer running your business over spending time with your dying mother.”

  “What? No!” replied Daniel, aghast someone could ever make such an outlandish accusation. “I love my mother! But an entire company depends on me. We’re launching a new product soon, and now is not the time to leave it in someone else’s hands. But I can’t choose when my mother gets cancer. I didn’t want to have to do this at all, but I have no choice, no choice whatsoever. I don’t have a choice in the matter, Kolo. Ten years is a lot to trade, but I will do it if that’s what I must.”

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  Daniel fell silent, waiting for Kolo to respond to his request. He watched nervously as Kolo slowly spun the golden pocket watch between his fingers, waiting for any indication that the Time Merchant was willing to complete the transaction.

  “I think you are misinformed about something, Daniel,” Kolo started slowly, gazing at the light reflecting from the pocket watch as he spun it between his fingers. “You seem to think that the main barrier to you spending more time with your dying mother is her limited lifespan, made apparent to you by the onset of her illness.”

  A moment passed, then two as Daniel tried to process Kolo’s statement. Then Daniel exploded.

  “Are you implying that this is NOT the main barrier? I’ve already made it clear to you; I cannot simply abandon my company. Will you do this transaction or not, Kolo? I’ve already agreed to your price. Ten years off my lifespan in exchange for one year of hers.”

  Kolo depressed the latch again. Daniel flinched, ready for the silence. But it did not come. Kolo’s fingers prevented the pocket watch from flipping open. Time did not stop.

  “Daniel. No matter the time she has, your behavior won’t change. The amount of time you can spend with her is the same.”

  A train came again, screeching into the platform. It shed its burden of people before accepting a replacement batch. It chugged along again.

  “Three months left, compared to fifteen months? That’s a huge difference, Kolo. What does my behavior have to do with any of this?”

  The pocket watch’s cover flipped open, and the station was silent again. Kolo stood up, stretching his shoulders, causing Daniel to flinch and take a step backwards. He tripped over the immobile briefcase, falling onto the ground.

  “Allow me to show you something, Daniel. Consider this service on the house.” Kolo offered Daniel a hand. Daniel brushed it off, choosing to stand up on his own.

  “What… does this have to do with my request?” he asked warily.

  Kolo’s hand was still proffered to Daniel. “I’m afraid that’s the problem, Daniel. But I will try my best. Take my hand.”

  Disgruntled, Daniel slowly reached for Kolo’s hand. “If you think this is some Christmas Carol stupidity, I’ll have you know –.” He gasped, for the moment he took the man’s hand everything had changed.

  To Daniel, the station had disappeared and they were standing on thin air, overlooking his own office at the company. Daniel saw himself, sitting there at his desk, reviewing the screen of his office.

  “We’re in your office, Daniel.” Kolo let go of his hand. “A year from now.”

  Curious, Daniel walked over to review the spreadsheets over his future self’s shoulder. He gasped. Everything had succeeded. Their new product launch had succeeded, and judging by the numbers he was seeing, they’d succeeded far beyond his wildest dreams.

  Then future-Daniel’s intercom rang. Future him pressed a button. “Yes?”

  “Hello President. Your sister is here to see you, if you are available?” came his secretary’s voice from the intercom.

  “Let her in,” future-Daniel replied.

  Kolo walked up behind Daniel and laid a firm hand on Daniel’s shoulder. “Watch,” Kolo commanded.

  Daniel’s sister came in, closing the door behind her without decorum. “Danny. We need to talk.”

  Future-Daniel’s eyes didn’t shift away from his screen. “Hello to you too, Nicole. How’s mom?” future-Daniel asked.

  “Why don’t you go see for yourself, Danny?” Nicole retorted, walking towards his desk and putting her hands down on the desk. “She’s not doing well, Danny. And you’re sitting here, staring at your precious spreadsheets. You think this is more important than mom?”

  Future-Daniel pursed his lips, frowned, then input a different variable into the spreadsheets. Annoyed, Nicole reached over and turned the screen away from future-Daniel.

  “You aren’t even paying attention to me, Danny. What is going on? Why are you so relaxed?! Mom could die any moment now and – “

  “Mom has a few more months to live, Nicole. Calm down. I saw her just last week, for New Year’s Eve. She’s not going to die just yet.”

  “You can’t possibly be certain of that, Danny. You're not the doctor here. The doctor told me that her outlook doesn’t look good. In fact he’s surprised that she lived this long – a whole year longer than she was supposed to even have.”

  Future-Daniel closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. “I just know, Nicole. I’ve done everything I can to ensure that she has the best treatment and that her final year with this disease wouldn’t cause her undue pain.”

  Nicole slammed the table furiously. “Why aren’t you spending more time with her?! You promised us half a year ago that when the product was clearly successful, you would. It’s been half a year and everything has been fine. Mom is dying, Danny. Mom misses you even if she doesn’t say it. Why aren’t you coming to see her!?”

  “I’ve spent more time with – on — her than you could possibly know, Nicole,” future-Daniel replied stiffly. “And I will see her again this weekend.”

  “The weekend, really? Again? Just so you can pop your head in for what, half an hour again, then disappear as soon as you get another phone call from work? Take some time off, Danny. Please,” Nicole pleaded.

  But future-Daniel shook his head, “I can’t, Nicole. You know that. The shareholders are always demanding more, and I’m responsible for the livelihoods of over five million employees. Do you even care to understand how I feel, what pressure I’m under? Do you know how much of my time you’re wasting right now, a privilege I give you only because you’re my sister? In fact just earlier today, the company decided that – “

  Daniel started as Kolo’s hand gripped his shoulder again. “I think that’s quite enough,” said Kolo. Daniel blinked, and then they were in the station again.

  “Wait, Kolo. I wanted to finish hearing that bit. Can’t we go back?” asked a bewildered Daniel. “This is critical information!”

  Kolo looked at Daniel pityingly. “I give you a sneak peek at the future you will have, and that’s still what you focused on? The future of your business?”

  Daniel drew himself up and thrust out his chest. “Of course! Didn’t you even hear what my future self said? I visit my mother every weekend! So lengthening her time is obviously the correct answer here. I can see her every weekend for a whole year!”

  Shaking his head, Kolo sighed, then sat back down on the bench.

  “I don’t think you understand, Daniel. If you took the next three months off to spend it with your mother, you will have spent more time with her than if you lengthened her life span by a whole year and only visited her every weekend,” explained Kolo as he wound up his pocket watch. “Yet you are willing to trade ten years of your life for this.”

  “I don’t have a choice here. I’d give you the full explainer, but you quite literally just heard it from my own future self. Will you do it or not?” asked Daniel with a sense of finality.

  “Of course, I will,” Kolo replied, finishing up the winding of the pocket watch, “You accepted the terms of payment.”

  “How will this work?” Daniel asked, relaxing visibly. He felt that he had won. “Do you suck my life out or something? Do I sign a contract on human leather parchment?”

  “No, Danny. Take my pocket watch and wind it ten turns.” Kolo undid the chain and offered the golden pocket watch to Daniel. “One turn for each year.”

  Daniel eyed the pocket watch with caution. “You aren’t afraid I’d steal this?”

  “You wouldn’t know how to use it at all.”

  Daniel hesitated for a moment longer, then gingerly touched the pocket watch. Not feeling any different, he took it. “Clockwise? Counterclockwise?”

  “Wind it clockwise,” Kolo instructed.

  And Daniel did so, winding the crown of the pocket watch clockwise ten times. Then he stopped.

  “I … don’t feel any different?” asked Daniel questioningly.

  “Of course not,” Kolo replied, stretching a hand out for his pocket watch, to which Daniel deposited it gingerly. “You paid with your future.”

  “Can I at least know how long I will live then?”

  Kolo fiddled with the pocket watch as he answered, “No. That’s future information you may not have.”

  Daniel opened his mouth to respond, then chose to stay silent.

  “If you think that I forgot that I’ve shown you the future, Daniel, I have not,” Kolo continued dryly, “When this time bubble collapses around us, your memories of that future will have disappeared. Now leave. And I hope that you visit your mother with the extra time you’ve bought.”

  “What? That’s it? Nothing to give me?” exclaimed Daniel, wondering if he had been tricked. But no, all this man had done was ask him to wind a pocket watch. He couldn’t even be sure if he had paid a payment. How exactly does one ask for a receipt or invoice for payment in time?

  “Only advice, which you’ve ignored, Daniel. Oh, and if you tell anyone about what you’ve done regarding your mother’s life span, the effect breaks. Keep that in mind.” Kolo stood up and walked to the ledge overseeing the train tracks. “And visit her tonight, Daniel. Take the next train to do so. If you do, you will find it remarkably smooth on the way to the hospital.”

  Then the time bubble collapsed, and the background noise of the station flooded Daniel’s ears as he walked up to stand near Kolo, but unwilling to stand closer. “Aren’t you a bit too close, Kolo? The next train is coming soon, and you’re beyond the yellow line.”

  The speakers blared, announcing the next train’s approach.

  “This train, right?” asked Daniel.

  “Yes,” Kolo replied, leaning forward slightly to look down the tunnel. Daniel almost made a grab for Kolo.

  “You’ll fall in,” Daniel said, then observed, “The trains aren’t usually this on time.”

  “Trains are always on their own time,” Kolo responded. “Oh, and don’t forget your briefcase.”

  Daniel looked behind him, almost having a heart attack. That was millions. But the briefcase was still there. He spun around to pick it up, and began hearing the thundering blare of the train as it approached.

  “You may think trains are late,” continued Kolo, whose voice sounded crystal clear to Daniel despite the loud roar of the oncoming train, “but that’s because trains never follow human time. A train is only where it ever needs to be, and pays no heed to your rushing. If you think about it, you’d complain equally if a train had arrived earlier and left earlier than anticipated. Humans just have the audacity to believe their time is the only time that matters.”

  Hefting the briefcase in his hands, Daniel looked back at Kolo and tried to yell above the roaring sound of the train. But Daniel’s voice was drowned out by the train, and all he could see was Kolo smile at him briefly before taking a step off the ledge in front of the train.

  In that brief moment, the sound stopped for Daniel. All he saw was the glare of the train’s lights reflecting off Kolo’s suit, the wind blowing debris and newspapers around in the station as the train pushed into the station, and Kolo’s arm reaching up to snag the silver-gray fedora that was blown off his head, then the moment passed by as the train rushed right through.

  Resisting the urge to shout for help immediately, Daniel stared around at the station. No one else had seen it. The nearest person was a mere twenty feet or so from him and there was no way she did not see the man walk off the ledge right in front of the train.

  Coming to his senses, Daniel realized that people were pouring from the train carriage. And then he remembered the final advice just as his phone rang.

  “Yes?”

  “Uh, boss. Is everything okay?” The crisp voice belonged to the leader of his bodyguards, who had been instructed to protect him from far away. “We just watched you stand still there for quite some time, then suddenly you’re shouting.”

  “I’m fine,” Daniel answered. “Tell my secretary to cancel my plans for the night. Tell them something has come up, you can say it's a family matter. I’m taking the train to the hospital.”

  He stepped onto the train.

  do have a choice; I don't want anyone to walk away with the idea that Daniel had all the information he needed, but chose to not change in the end.